Washing machine with multiple liquid-impelling device



April 29, 1930. w. H. voss 6,

WASHING MACHINE WITH MULTIPLE LIQUID IMPELLING DEVICE Filed March 13,,1925 s Sheets-Sheet 1 aw/(1W. 5547055;

April 29, 1930.

w. H. voss WASHING MACHINE WITH MULTIPLE LIQUID IMPELLING DEVICE FiledMarch 13 1925 v 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 r m m April 29, 1930.. v H v 1,75 ,31

WASHING MACHINE WITH MULTIPLE LIQUID IMPELLING DEVICE Filed March13,1925 1 5 Sheets-sheaf, s

Patented Apr. 29,1930

WILLIAM H. voss, or DAVENPORT, IOWA WASHING MACHINE WITH MULTIPLELIQUID-IMPELLING DEVICE Application filed March 13, 1925. Serial No.15,219.

' washing machine which will effect a thorough agitation of thematerials to be washed irrespective of their position in the tub.

Another ob ect of my invention is to provide a multiple liquid agitatorconstruction in for a Washing machine wherein the liquidthattheffilfiitidisposed between tlmserotat agitators operate in theliquid of the tub with the fabrics therebetween so that a thoroughwashing action is imparted to the fabrics from a plurality ofpoints orzones within the tub.

Still another object of this invention resides in providing a multipleliquid agitator construction including an agitator mounted in the bottomof the tub where it will operate to impel the liquids in a generaldirection upwardly and for also another liquid agitator in the tub aboveand in spaced relation from the lower liquid agitator, the second liquidagitatorfunctioning to impel the liquiddownwardlyijiiiageneralrdirection so ing liquid agitators will bethoroughly cleansed. I

Still anotherobject of this invention resides in providing the tub withan upstanding drive shaft and in providing the drive shaft with one ormore liquid agitators which are adaptedto be rotated by said shaft butslide longitudinally thereof so as to be bodil detachable from saidshaft and removable rom the tub. I

Another object of the invention resides in providing a washing machinetube with a shaft extending upwardly from the bottom thereof andproviding the shaft with a liquid agitator generally in the form of aflat disk adapted to lie substantially snugly against the bottom of thetub and slightly spaced therefrom, the liquid agitator being providedwith upwardly projecting liquid impelling means, together With' a secondagitatormounted on said shaft in such a way that the second agitator,while being rotated by said shaft, is free to adjust itselfautomatically to operate substantially at the water level of" the tub,said second agitator having depending liquid impelling means thereonadapted to force the liquid downwardly in a generaldirection toward thefirst mentioned agitator.

Still another object of this invention rcsides in providing the tub ofthe washing machine with a shaft projecting upwardly through the bottomthereof and in providing the shaft with one or more rotatable liquidagitators which'are adapted to be driven by said shaft, together with awater tight arrangement of shaft construction so that the liquid in thetub will not tend to leak through the) bearings for the shaft in thebottom of the tn Yet another object of this invention resides inproviding the bottom of the tub with a water drain and in suitablyinclining the bottom of the tub so that the liquid will drain therefrom.7

Yet another object of this invention resides in providing the tub withan inclined bottom and with a centrally upstanding shaft, together witha liquid agitator operatively mounted oiftlie' shaft and positioned*adjaeefifthe bottom of the tub, said liquid agitator being (providedwith a depending flange extending below the surface of the tub andadapted to prevent fabrics from lodging sides in providing a hingedconstruction for the top of the tub which is adapted'to provide apositive stop for the full open position of the hinged cover.

Yet another feature of the invention resides in providing a tub with acentrally positioned upstanding shaft and in providing the shaft with awater tight driving connec- 7 tion with one or more liquid agitators,said connection and liquid agitators being constructed and arranged -toermit the quick endwise removal of the liquid agitators from the shaft.

Yet another feature'of my invention resides in the novel construction ofafloating liquid agitator constructed of metal and provided withdepending liquidf impelling members which are adapted to thoroughlyagitate the liquid as the liquidagitators floats substantially on thesurface of the liquid.

These and other objects of the invention will be apparent from a perusalof the following specification when taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings, wherem:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the interior of the tub showing theupper and lower li uid impelling members. v

igure 2 is a sectional view of the tub and liquid impeller construction.lFigure 3 is a plan view ofthe bottom of the tu Figure 4 is a bottomview of the under face of the upper liquid impeller.

. 2 preferably made of metal.

I broken Figure 5. is a side View of the sleeve which provides a watertight connection for the drive shaft.

Figure 6 is a plan View of the upper face of the lower liquid impeller.1

Figure 7 is a broken detailed View of the hinge connection for the coverof the tub.

Figure 8 is a view of the cover shown in osition. s

And,- i ure 9 is a view showing the pivoted joint etween the the top andthe cover of the tub.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, my washing machine comprisesthe usual support 1 carrying the substantially circular tub This tub isprovided with a bottom 3 preferably having a central aperture upwardlythrough which projects into the tub a central drive shaft for the tub. 5

' In order to provide a Water tight construction to permit thisupstanding drive shaft to project upwardly through the tub, the centralaperture in the bottom of. the tub 3 is provided with a substantiallydisk-like mom: her 4 which is formed with a downwardly depending tubelike flange 5 internally screw threaded. This disk-like member lisbolted to the inner face of the bottom 3 of the tub by means of a Woodencircular block 6 and an outward reinforcing disk-like members 7 A seriesof bolts 8 securely fasten the inner disklike member 4, the woodencircular block 6 and the outer reinforcing disk 7 to the bottom of I thetub 3. The outer reinforcing member 7 is also provided with an outwardlyprojecting boss 9 which forms a lower bearing for the upstanding shaft10. The tubular sleeve 5 which is interiorly threaded has screwedprojections.

thereinto an upstanding tube or sleeve of shaft 10 is riveted as at 12,an outer casing 13 made of aluminum. In the preferred form the casing isprovided with one or more feathers 14; either formed integrallytherewith or in any other desired manner. The

upper portion of sleeve" 13 is preferably formed substantially circularor 'domelike.

The inside of the sleeve 13 is provided Witl upper and lower bearings 15and 16 respectively which contacts with the outside periphery of thebrass tube or sleeve 11 and thereby form steadying bearings for thesleeve. The lubrication therefore is effected at thesetwo points by thesoapy water in the tub.

The bottom 3 of the tub is placed on a slant or incline so that it willdrain to one side. And the lower side is provided with a drain hole 16formed with a spout- 17.

The liquid agitator mechanism of the, tub preferably comprises one ormore liquid impelling members which are adapted to be alternatelyrotated by means of the shaft 10. This shaft 10 is preferably driven bysuitable power operated automatic reversing mechanism as is well knownin the art. In the preferred form illustrated the liquid impellingmechanism comprises a lower liquid agitator generally in the form of asubstantially flat disk-like member 18 which is provided on its uppersurface with gne or more upstanding Inv the present instance these prOjec'tiOnsar'e shown as a plurality of blades 19, preferably formed inradial arrangement from the axis of oscillation of the liquid impeller.The hub of the liquid impeller is provided with a central bore whichreceives the sleeve 18. And the bore is provided with one or more slots20 which fit overthe feathers 14 so that while the li uid impeller isrotatably driven by the sha t 10 it is free to slide longitudinallythereof so as to be detachable completely from the tub at a momentsnotice. This liquid impeller being heavier than the water, it isnormally ,arranged to be positioned at the bottom of the tub injuxtaposition to the bottom wall 3 thereof, being slightly spaced fromthe bottom of the tub to permit free rotation of the liquid impeller.This spacing isv accomplished by means of stops 21 on the lower ends ofthe feathers 14. These stops engage the under surface of the liquidagitator 18 and prevent it from moving downwardly in the bottom of thetub 3. I 2 In order to prevent fabrics or other materials from lodgingbeneath the liquid agitator 1 8, that is, getting in betweenthe bottomof the liquid agitator l8 and the bottom of the tub, the liquid agitatoris provided with a peripheral" downwardly depending flange 22 whichforms a guard. Inasmuch as the bottom of the tub 3 is inclined and sincethe depending flange 22 would strike the bottom of the tub as the liquidagitator oscillates, the bottom is provided with a circular groove 23 sothat. the flange 22 when it rotates will de pend the-reinto. and willproject below the plane of the bottom of the tub. This provides a verysnug arrangement of the bottom of the tub and the liquid agitator so asto actually preclude any fabrics from lodging beneath the liquidagitator 18 as it oscillates. It will be noticed that the groove 23 ismade deeper on the higher side of the bottom of the tub to preventcontact between the flange 22 and the bottom of the groove or sidesthereof. This groove is provided with a trench 24 connecting with drain16.

For the purpose of providing a thorough and effective agitation for allof the fabrics in the washing machine tub, and from every point or zoneof the tub, I provide a second liquid agitator which is adapted tooperate on the liquid level. or at the liquid level and to agitate thewater downwardly toward the lower liquid agitator. This lower liquidagitator, by its construction, in turn throws the water in a generaldirection upwardly toward the upper liquid agitator whereby fabricswhich are positioned between these two liquid agitators are mostthoroughly.

cleansed from above and below. In this way no portion of the fabricswithin the tub become stagnant. This, upper liquid agitator is made ofmetal or of any durable substance which will not lie-effected by thewater. I have provided a construction whereby this upper liquid agitatoris adapted to automatically follow the liquid level, for instance, ifthe tub be completely full of water the liquid agitator will bepositioned substantially at the top of the tub as it rotates. On theother hand if the tub be only half full of water this liquid agitatorwill'be so positioned substantially half way the height of the tub asthe liquid agitator rotates. In order to permits this liquid agitator torotate on the surface of the water, in the present instance, I provideit with an air compartment, constructed as to give it desired buoyancyso that it will sink to a desired depth in the water, just enough toemerge the liquid impelling member thereon into effective position toproduce'the best agitation of the fabrics and the liquid in the tub. Anydesired degree of submergence of the liquid agitator may be secured byvarying the capacity of the air chamber in the liquid agitator. In thepreferred form of construction this upper liquid agitator 25 is formedof upper and lower sections 26 and 27 suitably bolted together as at28and provided with an inner lining.

39 is hinged The joint between these sections 26 and 27 is made watertight'in any suitable manner.

The air chamber is denoted by the nlnneral 29; The lowersection 27 isprovided with the hub 30, which hub is formed with oppositely disposedslots 31 adapted to fitthe feathers with the liquid levelin the tub. Inaddition,

this hub is provided with a flange which forms a hand hold wherebytheliquid agitator may be quickly removed from the tub.

The bottom portion of the liquid agitator is provided with dependingliquid impelling members 33 of any desired form. These members aregenerally disposed so as 'to throw the water downwardly toward the lowerliquid agitator and arearranged to impart effective agitation to thefabrics and the liquid in the tub.

The top of the tub is provided with a closure. In'the present form thetop is provided with an inner rim like member 34 provided with asubstantially large opening. At one end of this rim 34 is provided withtwo spaced apart projections 35 and 36, each of which is provided with adownwardly depending ear 37 having a bore 38. The cover between theseears 37. This cover is formed as a flat top for the tub. The cover islikewise cut away to correspond to the opening between the portions 35and 36 and is formed also with downwardly depending ears 4O likewiseprovided with bores 41. Pins 42 hingedly connect the cover 39 to the rimprojections 35 and 36. As shown in Figure 8, when the cover is thrown toits full open position, the top of the cover will strike against ledge43 and prcventit from further opening. The rear portion of the cover, asat 44, is cut away to fit the ledge 43 when the cover is in closedposition. Inaddition the cover 39 is provided with a hand hold formed ofa depressed portion 45 so that there are no upstanding projections onthe surface of the cover, or on the surface of the rim portion 34 of thecover. In this way the top of the tub is formed at a level surface.

In the operation of my improved device when the shaft 10 is alternatelyrotated, the lower metal liquid agitator 18 will be likewise rotated toagitate the liquid and fabrics and cause a general upward movementthereof At the same time the upper aluminum liquid agitator is rotatedby shaft 10 and due to the air chamber and the'proportioning of parts,it will rise and seek its level according to the amount of water in thetub. The weight of the liquid agitator and the capacity of the air'chamber is arranged so as to sufficiently submerge the liquid agitatorinto the water almost to the top line of the adapted to be adjustablymaintained in spa ed apart relation so as toreceive there? bet eenvariant volumes of the materialto -bg/leansed, and means for positivelyrotating said liquid impelling members.

2. In a washing machine, a. tub adapted to contain liquid, a drive shaftprojecting into said tub, means for rotating said drive shaft, and alurality of separate liquid impelling mem ers .slidably mounted on andadapted to be positivelyrotated by said shaft,

o'said members having liquid impellers facing each other. 3. In awashing-machine, a tub adapted to contain liquid, a drive shaftprojecting into said tub, means for rotating said shaft, a

plurality of liquid impelling members operatively driven by said shaft,and means for permitting said liquid impelling members to move bodily,relatively.

4. In a washing machine, a tub adapted into said tub, means forrotating'said shaft, :1 liquid impeller disposed at the bottom of saidtub and operatively driven by said shaft, a second liquid impelleroperatively driven by said shaft, said second liquid impeller beingconstructed and arranged to rotate .in various horizontal planes in saidliquid in spaced relatlon from and above said first mentloned liquidimpeller.

5. In a washing machine, to contain cleansing liquid, a drive shaftadapted to project into said tub, two liquid to contain liquid, a driveshaft projecting,

a tub adapted 7, In a washing machine, a tub adapted to contain aliquid, a shaft adapted to pro'ect into said tub, means for rotating)said sha t, a liquid impelling member slida ly keyed on said shaft andremovable endwise therefrom,

saidliquid impelling member adapted to be positioned adjacent the bottomof the tub and having upwardly projecting liquid impelling means, asecond liquid impelling member slidably keyed on said shaft andremovable enclwise therefrom, said second liquid impelling member beingconstructed and arranged to rotate substantially on the surface of theliquid in the tub. I 8. In a washing machine, in combination with a tubhaving a flat inclined bottom, a liquid impelling member adapted torotate adjacent to said bottom, said liquid impelling member havingupwardly projecting impelling means and a downwardly projectingperipheral flange, and a circular channel of variable depth forthereception of said flange.

impeller members mounted on said shaft and 7 adapted to be rotatedthereby, one of said liquid mpeller members being "adapted to rotate ina fixed plane, the other member belng constructed and arranged to auto-9. In a Washing machine, a tub having a bottom provided with acentralaperture, a rigid facing for the inner Wall of said bottom, said facinghaving a tubular interiorly threaded flange fitting intg the centralaperture of said tub bottom, a reinforcing block disposed on the outerface of the tub bottom, and means for connectin said tub bottom,theinner facing and said In 00k, a tube screwed into said tubular flangeand projecting into the tub above the normal liquid level thereof, ashaft passing through said sleeve and extending above the end of thesleeve inthe tub, a closed ended casing enclosing and connected to theupper end of the shaft and-bearing laterally on the upper and lowerportion of the tube as it rotates, and a plurality of liq- ,said liquidlmpelllng member comprlslng a.

. matically shift longitudinally of said shaft.

:obcorrespond to the height of liquid in said 6. In a washing machine, atub adapted to contain cleansing liquid, a liquid impelling membermounted to rotate in the bottom of said tub, asecond liquid impellingmember in said tub composed of material, of greater specific gravitythan the liquid, means for rotating said second member in said tub, saidsecond member and means being constructed and arranged to permit saidsecond member to rotate substantially on the surface of the liquid andto permit it automatically to move lengthwise of its axis of rotationduring rotation so as to be capable of rotating in any planecorrespondingv to the liquid level in said tub...

lower section having an integral head portion provided with slotsadapted to pass over the feathers on said sleeve and a hub sectionhaving an upstanding handle hold, said last section having dependinliquid impelllng means integral therewith, and an upper section adaptedto make a water tight fit with the lower section and means fordetachably connecting said sections together to form an interior airchamber. j

'11. In a washing machine, a tub adapted to contain cleansing liquid,two liquid impelling membersdisposed in said tub, means for positivelyrotating said members, and'means for ermitting said membersautomatically to shi t relatively during rotation to vary the distancetherebetween. I

12. In a washing machine, a tub adapted to contain a cleansing liquid, avertical shaft upstanding from the bottom of said tub, a liquid tatableadjacent the bottom of the tub and provided with upwardly projectingliquid impelling means, a second liquid impelling member rotatable withsaid shaft in the liquid above and in spaced relation to the firstmember, said second member having depending liquid impelling means, saidliquid impelling members being slidable endwise of said shaft forremoval therefrom and from said tub.

13. "In a washing machine the combination of a tub, a shaft extendinginto said tub, a liquid impelling member located on said shaft at thebottom .of the tub arranged to throw the washing liquid toward the topof the tub, and

another liquid impelling member adapted to rotate in spaced relationfrom the first member and adapted to'throw the liquid toward the firstmentioned member, one of said members being slidable on said shaft.

.14. In a washing machine, the combination of a, tub, a shaft extendinginto said tub,'and liquid impelling members rotatable disposed on saidshaft in vertically superimposed, spaced-apart relation and adapted tocircu-, late the washing liquid in a general direction toward eachother, one of said members be- Y ing slidable on said shaft.

15. .In a washing machine, a combination of a tub, two oscillatablemembers mounted in the tub in spaced apart superimposed relation andadapted to receive the clothes therebetween, said members having liquidimpolling vanes extending toward each other, and one of said membersbeing shiftable on said shaft.

16. In a washing machine, the combina tion of a tub, two alternatingrotary members mounted in the tub in spaced-apart superimposed relationand adapted to receive the clothes therebetween, said members havingliquid impelling vanes extending toward each other, and said membersbeing relatively movable-toward and from each other.

17. In a washing machine, the combination of a tub, twoalternatingrotary members mounted in the tub in spaced-apartsuperimposed relation and adapted to receive the clothes therebetween,said members having liquid impelling vanes extending toward each other,and one of said members being arranged automatically to follow the waterline in the tub;

18. In a washing machine, the combination of a tub, two alternatingrotary members mounted in the tub in spaced apart superimposed relationand adapted to receive the clothes therebetween, said members havingliquid impelling vanes extending toward each other, the lower memberbeing disposed adjacent the bottom of the tub and the upper memberhaving means causing it to float in the liquid and to follow the waterline.

19. In a washing machine, the combination posed relation and adapted toreceive the clothes therebetween, said members having liquid impellingvanes extending toward each other, said members being constructed andarranged to automatically move relatively to ward and from each otherdepending upon the quantity of clothes therebetween.

20. In a washing machine, the combination with the tub, a liquidagitating member of greater specific gravity than the liquid in the tub,means for oscillatably supporting the agitator within the tub, saidmeans being constructed and arranged to permit the free verticalmovement of the agitator in the tub and said agitator having liquidimpelling means of substantial width depending outwardly from itsunderportion so as to cause a circulation of-the washing liquid and saidagitator having a float adapted to render the agitator buoyant, and asecond agitating member mounted on said supporting means.

21. An agitator for a washing machine composed of metal and having ahollow portion forminga float, said portion having a substantially.circular bottom wall formed ating from the under surface of the body, 7

said means increasing in width from the inner to the outer portionsthereof whereby to effect a circulation of the water.

23. In a washing machine, the combination .of a tub, a single shaftadapted to extend vertically into said tub and adapted to be drivenfirst in one direction and then in the other, a plurality of liquidimpelling members mounted on said shaft for rotation there- Willi]? andfreely slidable endwise of said s a t.

24. In a washing machine, the combination of a tub, a shaft extendinginto said tub and a plurality of liquid impelling members mounted onsaid shaft and freely slidable thereon.

25. In a washing machine, the combination of a tub, a shaft extendinginto said tub, and a plurality of liquid impelling members mounted onsaid shaft and freely slidable thereon, said members being provided withvanes extending toward each other.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name to this specification.

WILLIAM H. voss.

